Triplet Babies for the Billionaire (Happy Ever Alpha Daddies)

5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Blossom

I open the door to the apartment, the familiar smell of warm cheese and tortillas greeting me as I step inside. Amy’s standing at the stove, flipping a quesadilla with practiced ease. The faint sound of sizzling fills the small kitchen.

Dropping my bag on the couch, I finally kick off my shoes.

The day has been nuts.

My mind’s still stuck on everything that happened at the hotel, and every time I think about Noah, I can feel my pulse quicken.

It’s a mess, and I don’t even know how to talk about it.

Amy turns around as I walk in, her blonde bob bouncing with the movement. She looks at me expectantly. “So, how was your first day, Bee?” she asks, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Was it everything you imagined?”

I wave my hand, brushing it off. “It was fine,” I say quickly, heading toward my room to change. “Busy, you know. A lot of stuff to learn.”

She doesn't buy it. “Come on, tell me all about it. What happened that’s got you so wound up?” she presses, following me into the living room. “What’s going on?”

I glance over at her, unsure of how to even start. My stomach churns. “It’s nothing. Really,” I lie, my voice coming out a little too high-pitched.

Amy crosses her arms, her gaze narrowing. “You’re not fooling anyone. Spill it, Bee. What’s going on with you?”

I can’t keep it in any longer. The words spill out before I can even stop myself. “Noah Hudson is the same Noah from the wedding,” I blurt out.

Amy freezes, the spatula hovering in midair. Her mouth drops open, and her eyes widen in shock. “You slept with our boss ?” she exclaims, the words coming out in a disbelieving gasp.

“I didn’t know he was our boss yet!” I defend myself, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “He didn’t tell me.”

Amy bursts out laughing, shaking her head. “Oh my God, Bee. You’ve got to be kidding me.” She places the quesadillas on a plate and carries them over to the coffee table, but she’s still grinning from ear to ear. “Well, shit. That’s a good one.”

“I don’t know what to do,” I confess, sitting down on the couch. “This is so...awkward. What if it messes up everything? What if he tells everyone?”

Amy plops down next to me, casually munching on her quesadilla. “Calm down,” she says between bites, “You’re both adults, right? It’s not like you got caught in the supply closet or anything. Shit happens.”

I stare at her, dumbfounded. “You’re really not freaking out about this?”

“Why should I?” She shrugs, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “You know what? It’s New York City. People fuck.”

I’m still processing Amy’s nonchalant response, my mind spinning as she plops a perfectly cooked quesadilla onto another plate. She slides it toward me and looks at me expectantly, like it’s no big deal.

“Really?” I mutter, shaking my head in disbelief. “You’re really this calm about it?”

Amy shrugs, sitting back on the couch and taking a bite of her food. “Look, Bee, it’s not a big deal. You’re both grown adults. You weren’t trying to sabotage your careers or anything. You didn’t even know he was your boss when it happened. You’re fine. Relax.”

I can’t help but stare at her. “You’re just...okay with it?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, I’m okay with it. Why wouldn’t I be? You’re not going to marry the guy or anything, right? Just keep it professional moving forward. Hell, half the people in this city are probably sleeping with someone they shouldn’t. So just don’t make it weird.”

I shake my head, chuckling despite myself. “I wish I had your confidence.”

Amy plates up another quesadilla for herself, then plops down beside me. We both settle in front of the TV, the sitcom playing softly in the background as we stuff our faces and laugh.

"Just don’t do it again, and everything will be fine," Amy adds nonchalantly. “That’s the only rule.”

I nod, but it doesn’t make me feel any less uneasy.

That night, I can’t sleep. I toss and turn, the sheets tangled around my legs as I stare at the ceiling, listening to the steady sound of Amy’s breathing across the room. She’s already asleep, but my mind won’t stop racing.

I keep thinking about what happened with Noah.

What could happen.

How am I supposed to handle this?

What if the whole hotel finds out? What if it ruins everything?

I imagine walking into work tomorrow, and I can already see Noah’s cold stare, maybe even the hint of disappointment in his eyes. I picture myself sitting down in front of him, my palms sweating as I say, “We’re just too different. This can’t work.”

I sigh, running my hand through my hair. I can’t shake this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’m not ready to lose this job. I can’t afford to lose this job. And I can’t afford to screw it up by letting a stupid mistake from one night spill over into my professional life.

Amy's words keep echoing in my head. Just don’t make it weird. But how can I do that when everything about this feels “weird”?

Eventually, I drift off to sleep, but I know tomorrow is going to be harder than I can even imagine.

The morning light filters through the blinds as I wake up, my mind immediately racing back to everything that happened last night. The thought that’s been haunting me since my first day at work refuses to leave— I can’t let anything happen between me and Noah.

I move through the motions of getting ready for the day, taking a quick shower to shake off the haze of sleep, but all I can think about is that night, and the idea that everything could be ruined.

What if we both get caught up in the attraction again?

What if that night was more than just a fleeting moment?

Under the hot water, I imagine him standing in front of me. I think of his tall, commanding figure and his blue eyes locked onto mine. I picture him coming toward me, his lips brushing against mine like before, drawing me into that magnetic pull between us. And then I push him away, the words coming out of my mouth before I even have a chance to think. “We can’t do this. It can’t happen again.”

I force myself to shake off the thought, closing my eyes as I finish rinsing off. This is my job now. I have to keep it professional. There’s no room for personal feelings, no room for temptation. I won’t let Noah distract me.

I finish up, take a deep breath, and try to focus. No matter how badly I want to feel those electric sparks between us again, today, it’s just business. Nothing more.

I hop on the subway, feeling the rush of the morning crowd pressing around me. The familiar hum of the train fills my ears, but my mind is elsewhere.

As I stand there, gripping the overhead pole, my eyes flick to the woman next to me, holding a book. The cover catches my eye. It’s a steamy romance novel with a shirtless guy on the cover, his abs glistening in the sun as he gazes at the woman in his arms. The cover is a little too graphic for my taste, but for some reason, my eyes can’t seem to look away. It’s like a visual pull, drawing me in.

I think of Noah, of that night we shared. The heat, the closeness, the passion. My heart races at the memory.

Is that what we were? A forbidden romance?

I feel myself getting lost in the image, imagining what it would be like if Noah was the one on the cover, the one pulling me close again. But just as my thoughts spiral, the train lurches to a stop, and I’m jolted back to reality. I blink, realizing I almost missed my stop.

My pulse quickens as I push my way toward the door, narrowly avoiding the closing train doors. I jump off just in time, my breath coming in short bursts.

Focus, Blossom. You’ve got to keep it together today.

The day starts out slow. Noah keeps his distance, letting me prove I can handle myself. I’ve been working at the bar for a few days now, and it’s clear I’ve got the hang of things. I know how to make the drinks and where everything is, and the staff has stopped looking at me like I’m new.

But the tension between me and Noah is still there, hanging in the air like an unspoken challenge.

As we work together behind the bar, organizing glassware and serving drinks, our hands brush periodically. The electricity that zips through me is almost too much to handle, but this time, I manage to pull myself together quickly.

I remind myself, like I have a hundred times since that first day, I can’t do this. I can’t let myself get distracted. This is my job.

When our hands accidentally touch while reaching for a bottle, I immediately look away, biting my lip to keep my focus.

Noah, for his part, doesn’t seem to notice how much he is affecting me. He’s calm and collected, as always. But I can’t help the way my heart pounds. I remind myself that this is all temporary. I can’t let myself fall back into those dangerous feelings.

If he asks me again, if he tries anything again, I’m saying no.

That’s the plan.

Nothing more.

I head into the back, searching for another bottle of Moscato. The kitchen is quiet, and I relish the brief moment of solitude. I just need a minute to gather my thoughts, to refocus.

Just as I reach the wine rack, I hear footsteps approaching, and I turn to see Noah entering the back room.

He gives me a quick nod of acknowledgment, and I force a smile.

“How’s everything going?” he asks casually, leaning against the doorframe. He’s so collected, so professional. He’s clearly fine with the way things are, but I can’t shake the feeling that we’re walking a fine line.

“It’s going well,” I reply, trying to sound normal. But inside, I’m nervous, my stomach churning. This is the moment. The moment I’ve been dreading.

I take a deep breath, put the bottle back on the shelf, and turn to face him. “Listen, Noah,” I say, my voice firmer than I feel. “Whatever happened between us before, that can’t happen again.”

His eyes flash with surprise, but he doesn’t argue. He just looks at me for a beat, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nods. “I get it. I’m not going to make this weird,” he says quietly. “We’ll keep things professional. For both our sakes.”

I nod, relieved but still uncertain. “Thank you. I just don’t want to jeopardize everything.”

Noah’s expression softens, his gaze flicking to the floor. “I agree. I think...it’s for the best. We’re both here to work, not to mix business with...whatever that was.”

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the conversation lift slightly. “Thanks,” I murmur.

“Let’s keep it that way,” Noah replies, his voice steady, his eyes meeting mine for the briefest of moments before he turns and walks away.

And I stay there, taking another deep breath, wondering if I’ve just made the right decision or the biggest mistake of my life.